LOCATION MATTERS: Exterior Home Improvement in Illinois vs. Other States
By Karen Dix
Is exterior home improvement getting more expensive, or is it just where you live? Many homeowners have asked themselves that question, and in many cases, it is difficult to answer.
Geography definitely plays a part in what you pay for your next exterior home improvement project. Anyone who has lived in Florida and Alaska can tell you how much our “United” States can vary in everything from landscape to weather, population, and cost of living. Exterior home improvement costs are no exception.
However, whatever your geographic advantages or disadvantages, it’s always good to understand how your geography is affecting your exterior home improvement costs and why.
Not all costs for your exterior home improvement project will vary by location, but the main ones that will include variable costs such as:
Labor
In roofing as well as siding replacement, experts say labor comprises 60 percent of the overall cost of the project with the other 40 percent going for materials. Therefore, if you live someplace with higher labor costs, your exterior home improvement project may cost more than your friend who lives where the cost of living is lower.
The top five states for the highest roofing salaries are North Dakota, Connecticut, New Jersey, Minnesota, and Ohio. Pro-Home Services operates within the Chicago collar counties in Illinois, where our state ranks eighth out of the 50 for highest roofing salaries, according to a survey by Zippa.com. Actual salaries vary between Illinois cities but are reflected in the quote for your exterior home improvement project. Labor is, therefore, the largest percentage of cost within any estimate on roofing or siding.
Weather
Geographic areas perpetually pummeled with hurricane-force winds, like Florida, or excessive rain, like Washington, may see higher exterior home improvement costs than more temperate states. Here in Illinois, we are at risk for snowstorms in winter and rainstorms in Spring. The biggest offender to your exterior home, particularly to your siding and roofing, is hail, that dreaded accompaniment of the rainstorm.
In tracking the number of significant hail events by state from 2011-2022, Illinois just makes the top 10. We are ranked behind nine states: Ohio, North Carolina, South Dakota, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, and Texas, which holds the number one spot. This is one reason Pro-Home Services offers comprehensive repair service and helps many customers who call after storms, having suffered hail damage.
Permits
Every city and community requires permits to legally various exterior home improvement projects like replacing a roof. Permits fluctuate in cost by community. For roof replacement, permits can vary anywhere from $400-$1,500, but are unavoidable costs.
Many exterior projects that do not require a permit, such as replacing windows or doors in the same-sized space. Contractors may itemize permit costs but they are typically rolled into your estimate.
Delivery of Materials
Regardless of where you live or which roofer you hire, they must order materials for your project. Roofers in larger cities or ones located closer to where your selected siding or shingles are manufactured may be able to save on shipping costs. Regardless of where you live, delivery costs can also be affected by supply chain issues, fluctuating fuel costs and more.
There are many other factors that will affect the cost of your exterior home improvement that have more to do with your home than your hometown or home state. These factors are often based on the style of your house and your preferences in your building style and materials. We are referring to factors such as:
- Timing of your project. (Scheduling off-season or at the contractor’s convenience can lower installation costs.)
- Size of your home. (Larger homes require more materials and labor to improve.)
- The pitch of your roof. (More complex roof designs may require special treatment or safety equipment.)
- Material costs. (Your choice of materials—vinyl, fiberglass, engineered, or wood siding or asphalt, wood, or engineered shingles—will affect the cost of your project.)
- Amount of underlying structural repairs. (Damaged roofs and walls may require repair before they can be covered with shingles or siding.)
- First or second layer of shingles. (Adding a second layer of shingles over the first one can control costs.)
- Manufacturer sales or discounts. (As your contractor for details.)
If we can help you with your exterior home improvement for roofing, siding, windows, or doors in the Chicagoland area, contact us at Pro-Home Services. We offer in-home estimates, industry-leading craftsmanship warranties and the most sought-after brands and styles of shingles and siding. Get started today with a call to 630.790-0800.